Homelessness
What is it?[3]
Definition: lacking a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence
or, when a primary residence is a temporary place for people about to be institutionalized
or, any place not meant for regular sleeping and accommodation by humans
or, a supervised, temporary shelter.

Over 600,000 Americans are homeless on any given night. [11]
with around 65% living in emergency shelters or transitional housing
and 35% living in unsheltered locations

Abuse: A new child abuse report is made every 10 seconds[5]
With 4.5 American children dying per day because of maltreatment.Types of child abuse:
Neglect: 78.3%
Physical Abuse: 18.3%
Sexual Abuse: 9.3%
Psychological maltreatment: 8.5%
Medical Neglect: 2.3%
Other/unknown: 10.8%

And it pays off. Because with help, bad outcomes can be avoided.
Children experiencing child abuse and neglect are 9x more likely to become involved in criminal activities.
Totaling 14% of men in prison
and 36% of women in prison
Were abused.

Other outcomes:
Abused children are 25% more likely to experience teen pregnancy
And engage in sexual risk taking. Leading to STD’s
2/3 of people in drug abuse treatment facilities report being abused or neglected as children.
With 1/3 of abuse or neglect reporting adolescents having a substance use disorder by the age 18.

Poverty: 15% of Americans life at or below the poverty line[6]
That’s at least one person in any room of ten.
Or 46.5 million Americans.
Or 5.5 NY’s. Of people living in poverty.
–Including 16 million children.[7]
(22% of all children)

Federal poverty line = $23,500 for a family of four
Research shows that families need about twice that to cover basic income.

Over 1/3 children in Mississippi live in poverty.
While only 1/10 in North Dakota are under the poverty line.

Addiction
22.6 million Americans used illicit drugs last month. [10]
Leading to over 6 million children living with at least one parent with a drug addiction.
Most common illicit drugs:
Alcohol
Marijuana
Rx painkillers
Cocaine
Hallucinogens

RX drug abuse is on a two decade rise:[9]
The US is 5% of the world’s population
And we consume 75% of the world’s prescription pills.
With non-medical prescription drug use rising 500% since 1990.
Including non-medical use/abuse.

The numbers are massive, and it’s not for everyone:

Required education for social work:
Bachelor’s, Masters or Doctorate depending on position.
Average Pay: $53,000[13] But without good social workers, whole sections of our nation are goners